Rory McIlroy charged into contention for the US Masters on Friday, but was doing his best to shut out any thoughts of completing a career grand slam of the majors.
Should the world number three, just one behind leader Jordan Spieth, triumph on Sunday, he would become only the sixth man to win all four of golf's blue riband events, joining Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.
"Look, I'm really trying to block that out," four-time major champion McIlroy said. "It's another golf tournament I'm trying to win.
"I'm trying to beat guys on this leaderboard that I've beaten before, so I need to take confidence from that and know that I've been in this position before.
"Maybe not on this golf course, but I've been in this position before in big tournaments and been able to get the job done. So that's the way I need to approach it."
McIlroy came agonisingly close to winning the coveted Green Jacket in 2011 when he led by one stroke with nine holes to play before going on to shoot an eight-over 80 as he tumbled back into a tie for 15th.
"I know it's a very big weekend for me, but when I'm out there on the golf course, I just have to be completely 100 per cent focused on the task at hand.
"And if I can do that and stay in the moment and be completely focused over every golf shot I hit from now until Sunday night, then hopefully everything will work out the way I want it to."
McIlroy bogeyed the 11th hole on Friday to briefly trail pacesetter Jordan Spieth by eight shots but he stormed back with birdies at the 13th, 15th and 16th.
"Going into the back nine, I knew I just needed to stay patient and make pars, try to birdie the par-fives, and I was able to do that. The putt on 16 was obviously a bonus," McIlroy said of his curling 40-footer on the par-three hole.
"I'm very happy. I think getting anything under par today with the conditions and some of the pin positions, I'm really happy with that and in a good position going into the weekend."
Share
